Happy Friday! How is your week so far? For the first time ever I’m writing the Weekend Coffee Share on a Friday evening (actually it’s almost midnight.) I went to bed early, (it’s been a long, intense week,) but I had so many thoughts running trough my head, that it was impossible to sleep. I’ll share some of my thoughts with you, instead of pushing them away, trying to reach la la land.

How have you been? What kind of beverage can I offer you this Friday night? Of course you can always have coffee if you like, but there’s other beverages as well. Make yourself at home.

A post shared by MJ (@sagittariusviking) on Jan 18, 2019 at 3:39pm PST

I tried a new super-protein-smoothie today. One of my friends talked about Ka’chava. It sounded very interesting, with 70 organic plant based superfood. In my head I thought about some recent hikes that took longer than I thought, where I ended up being starving along the way. What If I had a quick filling meal with me for all those emergencies? Or when you’re spending time in places where the food is less appealing to your healthy lifestyle? It would be so awesome to bring something you could eat with a clear conscience, and stay on top of your world. So I decided to try it. It’s a powder that you can mix with any liquid (water, almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk etc.) It was as delicious as my friend told me, and very filling. I’m not associated with the brand in any way, just happily discovered something that I like, and will add to my daily diet. (And YES, my New Year Resolution workout routine is working, thanks for asking.) Maybe you want to switch your coffee, for a delicious smoothie this weekend, and try it yourself? Did I say that Ka’chava is seductively delicious?

So tell me about your week! Is it one of those super busy weeks in your corner of the universe? It has been a busy, rainy week here.

We don’t have very many days of rain in the desert. I enjoyed our rainy days!

A post shared by MJ (@sagittariusviking) on Jan 16, 2019 at 10:03am PST

There’s been a big focus on my daughter’s school work this week. We’ve spent an average of 2,5 hours after school every day working on things that she needs to improve. Learning wise last semester (when she tried living with her dad) was a joke. I’m not that concerned, because I know how intelligent she is, and she has all the support she needs now. This week’s hard work paid off, and there is already noticeable improvement. I also took her to see my optometrist today, just to make sure the challenges I’ve notices recently isn’t caused by anything physical. It would be such a bummer to have her work harder, when all she needs is glasses, but that wasn’t the case. Her eyes are perfect. I’m relieved, since I have some challenges with my eyes. We’re just going to keep making education a priority, like we always have. It’s so much easier to help her now, when I have her full time again. I’ve ordered a bunch of new, exciting books for her, to make it fun.

How do you like your smoothie? I’m totally hooked. Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I have some things I need to catch up with; update my online art gallery, clean up the dog area in the backyard (if it’s not too wet,) finish putting my daughter’s new loft bed together (it has hundreds of pieces..literally,) and I definitely need to get out of the city at some point. I’d like to try a new hike this weekend, I have a few on my wish list. My soul is screaming for a horseback ride this weekend. We’ll see. I still look at horse ads almost every day. While I’m sketching on garden plans for my future homestead, gotta keep the dream alive 😉

Oooo, I almost forgot! I’ve ordered a DNA testing kit. I don’t have it in my hands yet, but I’m super excited about it. I don’t know why I haven’t done it before, it’s been on my mind for a long time. I talked to a relative of mine earlier this week, and decided that I wanted to take a test myself. Have you done it? Or is it something that you would like to do? Why, or why not?

Have an awesome, amazing weekend!

Love,

Ms Zen

Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some time catching up with friends (old and new)!

Grab a cup of coffee and share with us! What’s been going on in your life? What are your weekend plans? Is there a topic you’ve just been ruminating on that you want to talk about?

All are welcome! Just add your link to the Linky-List, and be sure to visit others and join in their conversations!

Good Morning, I can’t believe it’s already Sunday. How is your weekend so far? Would you like some coffee, or tea this beautiful morning?

My body has been craving tea in the mornings for a while. I love coffee (as you know. The stronger the better,) but lately I’ve been craving tea to start my day. Herbal tea that is. Today I had Echinacea tea (with lemongrass, and licorice root,) to go with my avocado toast, and fresh dates. I have some of that hot black gold as well, if that’s what you prefer today.

What’s the weather like where you are? Are you enjoying cold, snowy days? We’ve had a comfortable week in the lower 60’s. Our weekend adventure this week went to Lake Mead. (All the photos in the post are from that trip.) It was a few degrees cooler there, but still very comfortable. I have been to Lake Mead before, but not spent that much time there. I really enjoyed exploring a little more, and I will definitely go back, when it gets hot in the city.

Majestic Lake Mead looking out towards Arizona, near Hoover Dam.

Lake Mead is a beautiful oasis in the desert. It’s located on the Colorado River, just minutes from The Las Vegas Strip! It is the largest man made reservoir in the United States. When full it has the capacity to cover the state of Pennsylvania with over one foot of water. Formed by the creation of Hoover Dam during the 1930s, the massive reservoir serves water to over 40 million people. Supplying water to several southwestern states as well as Mexico.

Rapidly rising water on the backside of Sand Island, located in Lake Mead’s Lower Basin area.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, is a National Park with an abundance of wildlife including, Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Grey and Blue Herons, coyotes, and the endangered Desert Tortoises, as well as several other species of wildlife.

BTW did you see the post about our weekend adventure last weekend ? We went to Mount Charleston (in the photos above) and played in the snow. It was a fantastic weekend!

Did you make any New Years resolutions? I’ve been keeping my exercise regime so far, it’s not new, I just like to have my goals on paper (so to speak.) I remember them better over time that way.

I feel like I’m on top of the world!

My German Shepherd Gretchen loves water, and she was thrilled when she saw the lake.

My little explorers. This is a sight I LOVE.

Are we starting to get back in the groove after the holidays? This was the first week at my daughter’s new school. She was nervous the first day, but it went well. The other days she happily went to school. She scored unusually low on a test on Friday, but I don’t make to much out of that, it’s probably due to all the excitement. Her new school is stricter than her last school. Both when it comes to uniforms, and rules. I like it. I think it’s very good for her. I give my daughter a lot of freedom, but my basic parenting is stricter than most of my friends. I think that a child very well can understand the relation between freedom, and responsibility. Their actions, and the result their actions create. I give a lot, but also expect a lot from her.

Are you good on coffee? Maybe a refill? It was morning when I started to write, then I got distracted for a few hours. I’m going to have some coffee, while I’m enjoying the other coffee shares.

Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some time catching up with friends (old and new)!Grab a cup of coffee and share with us! What’s been going on in your life? What are your weekend plans? Is there a topic you’ve just been ruminating on that you want to talk about? All are welcome! Just add your link to the Linky-List, and be sure to visit others and join in their conversations!

Yesterday I went to Target to pick up a few things for my daughter, and saw this cup that screamed my name. I love it when my everyday items reminds me about my dreams, and priorities. This cup does so in two ways; One, the good things in life aren’t material things (even though I appreciate all the money that keeps coming to me. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.) Two, I definitely need more wild horses in my life.

The other night I was talking to one of my friends, who out of the blue claimed that surfing is better than sex. The statement took me by surprise, but I’m not a surfer. My mind started to go haywire, and the first thing I thought about was the adrenaline I experience the first time I go into the round pen with a wild horse. It’s an unearthly experience, every first time, with every new horse. First the horse is scared, and a scared horse is dangerous. Some horses are in a fight mood. Fight, and flight moods are equally dangerous, if you ask me. 1000lbs of uncontrolled, raw muscle power. The magic, the feeling of oneness, happens the instant the horse understands that you want to communicate with them. It often happens in the blink of an eye. That’s when the dance begins. The part I enjoy the most.

Naturally I’m talking about those unfortunate, former wild horses, that have lost their freedom. When they already lost their freedom it’s directly connected to their quality of life, that we can figure out a good system of communication with them. (Just like we humans learn new skills in different ways, so does horses.) I prefer seeing them running completely wild and free on the range, but when that isn’t an option anymore, the beauty of that new dance is enchanting. When they are wild and free, it’s one of my favorite things to watch them play, and photograph them, to be able to share their zest of life with anyone not fortunate enough to experience it first hand. The spirit of the wild horse can teach us so much about living in the present. For me, that is the most intense form of zen, of oneness, that I ever experienced.

I’m sure you understand why I was thrilled to find this cup! What could be better than starting your day with a reminder of that thrill?

So how would you like your coffee today? How was your week? Is life coming back into normal now after the holidays?

I’d say that it’s been very busy since Christmas. I love having my daughter full time, and I’ve paused most of my regular activities, temporarily. I want to enjoy every second with her. Easing her into her new life, new routines, new friends, and on Monday a new school. My daughter is sweet, kind, and somewhat sensitive to changes. I’ve been focusing on making her feel that she’s at the right place, and surrounded by love. I’d say it’s going very well.

What’s the weather like where you live? Do you have snow? We don’t have snow, but there was some flurries, softly singling down from the sky on New Years Eve. It is cold for Las Vegas. Early Thursday morning it was 29 degrees, coldest so far this season. As long as the strong sun is shining, it’s lovely, just perfect.

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I’m actually having lunch with one of my blogging friends today, Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives. Terri is from Sacramento (CA,) but currently on a road trip with her husband. I’m so excited about our lunch today! Funny that we’re having lunch in Las Vegas, we never did when we lived a couple hours from each other (in California.) LOL

I need to get out of town at some point this weekend, to recharge for next week. I also have a new pair of hiking boots to break in. Very important business. I have a hike, not super far away, that I’m very curious about. We’ll see.

I’ve ordered a new bed from IKEA for my daughter. It’s a loft bed, and It’s supposed to be delivered today. I’m guessing that I will spend a fair amount of time putting it together tomorrow. I imagine making a magical forte under the loft, with some beautiful textiles, a chair, a desk, and some of my daughter’s personal things. The theme will be unicorns…she’s totally into unicorns.

Did you make any New Years Resolutions? I wrote about mine in my last post prior to this one. My workout routine have changed slightly since I moved to the city, and have less space for my everyday exercise, and no horses to ride. You know I miss my horses terribly, but I do my best to embrace the change.

The difference between those who succeed and those who fail isn’t what they have-it’s what they choose to see and do with their resources and their experiences of life.
– Anthony Robbins

I’m lifting more weights now, since I moved to the city, and I do feel stronger. I know without stepping on a scale, something I haven’t done in years..that I have gained weight, muscle weight. I feel that my body is changing. I like feeling strong and I’m definitely keeping that part up. I do need to add more cardio. Something new. Walking in the closest city park is getting boring. I’m looking into different alternatives. Are you planning on trying some new type of exercise this year?

I hope that your weekend is getting off to an amazing start! Feel free to grab a refill on that coffee on your way out!